along with wakeboarding this year i would like to wakeskate a little. It looks like a lot of fun. Now i have rode on a wakeskate before and can control it quite well but i was wondering what is a good to start with.....i would like one with grip tape because i dont think the foam has good grip but all the boards with grip tape seem to be a bit pricey for me.....what would you guys recamend(SP?) i would like to keep it under like $150. <BR> <BR>also can i buy a board with foam, tear the foam off and put grip tape on it?

you can grip any board. remember that almost any board you buy for $100 will break pretty fast. Devotid makes high quality flat decks now for $130 which would be a good thing to start with. Also Sattelyte is making some cheaper but still super durable concaves this year for $215. <BR>New wakeskates has $72.15 flat decks and you can put whatever graphic you want on it. <a href="http://newwakeskates.com/flatdecks.aspx" target="_blank">http://newwakeskates.com/flatdecks.aspx</a> <BR>New wakeskates also has really good shaped concaves for around 120. <a href="http://newwakeskates.com/proskates.aspx" target="_blank">http://newwakeskates.com/proskates.aspx</a> <BR> <BR>For under 150 your best bang for your buck is going to be a New Concave.

whats the difference between the concaves and the flat decks? i know the shape but whats the difference in how it rides?

concave gives you more leverage, so the board reacts faster to your movements whether its edge to edge or slamming the tail down for an ollie. the concave also allows the board to stay with you a bit better for wake to wake tricks because of the added weight as well as the top shape creates a pocket for your feet. <BR> <BR>all in all you will eventually get a concave no matter what if you plan on wakeskating

for 150 id go for new concave how big are you?

im a bout 5 foot 10 and like 160 pounds.

39-41 inches is about right for you.

id probably go with the new mogely 39.5 for you ive only herd good things about that board but ive never rode it my self

right night boardersmall.com has a Ronix Zariel bi-level wakeskate for 150

you probably wont want to start with a bilevel. its a bit harder to learn shuvs because they rotate really slow.

I agree about not starting on a bi I started on a flat and after my 1st month of skating I was ready to upgrade so I'd look into buying a nice wood concave from Oak, New, Devotid, or Sattelyte. I'm currently riding a New concave and 2 different Devotid bi-levels and all 3 are sick decks